Is it true if you are underwater and lightning strikes nearby it won't electrocute you?

Answer 1

Very good question. Here are some recommendations regarding lightning and swimming. The bottom line is to get out of the water if storms are anywhere close to you (using the guidelines below). These suggestions hold true whether it be an indoor or outdoor pool, a river, a pond, or the ocean you may be swimming in. Please read them.


Indoor/Outdoor Swimming Pool Safety
Lightning’s behavior is random and unpredictable. We recommend a very conservative attitude towards it. Preparedness and quick responses are the best defenses towards the lightning hazard.

Swimming pools are connected to a much larger surface area via underground water pipes, gas lines, electric and telephone wiring, etc. Lightning strikes to the ground anywhere on this metallic network may induce shocks elsewhere.

The National Lightning Safety Institute recommends the following swimming pool safety procedures:

Designate a responsible person as the weather safety lookout. That person should keep an eye on the weather. Use a "weather radio" or the Weather Channel or other TV program to obtain good localized advanced weather information.
When thunder and/or lightning are first noticed, use the Flash-To-Bang (F-B) method to determine its’ rough distance and speed. This technique measures the time from seeing lightning to hearing associated thunder. For each five seconds from F-B, lightning is one mile away. Thus, a F-B of 10 = 2 miles; 15 = 3 miles; 20 = 4 miles; etc. At a F-B count of thirty, the pool should be evacuated. People should be directed to safe shelter nearby.
Pool activities should remain suspended until thirty minutes after the last thunder is heard. The distance from Strike A to Strike B to Strike C can be some 5-8 miles away. And it can strike much farther away. Why take a chance with lightning?


Teach this safety slogan:
"If you can see it, flee it; if you can hear it, clear it."


Lightning strikes are weather-related medical emergencies. Lightning is consistently among the top 4 weather-related killers. In typical years, lightning kills more people in the United States than any other natural disaster (with the exception of flash floods), including tornadoes.

The National Weather Service reports more than 3,000 deaths a year from cardiac arrest related to lightning strikes. There are 4-5 times as many people injured.

Most people killed or injured by lightning are outside doing recreational activities such as fishing, boating, swimming, or playing sports. Others are working outdoors at construction jobs. Farmers are often struck, too.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

As long as the lightning does not strike you and as long as you are not close to or touching the bottom or sides you will always be fine.

Just for interest sake. Water does not conduct electricity. Only water with salts and minerals dissolved in it conduct electricity... pure H2O does not. But since just about all the water you will ever come in contact with does contain some amount of contaminants, it will conduct electricity.

Answer 4

It won't if it doesn't strike the water. Water is an excellent conductor of electricity, meaning that electricity will move through it rather quickly. If lightning strikes a body of water that you are in, you're going to be in serious trouble. This is also why one should not use electric or electronic things around water, in case they fall in. The shock can be fatal.

Answer 5

Not generally, unless you are fairly deep.